University of Connecticut Athletics
Strong Named The Athletic’s National POTY; Strong, Fudd Earn All-America Honors
3/5/2026 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NEW YORK – UConn women's basketball sophomore forward Sarah Strong was named The Athletic's National Player of the Year, the publication announced Thursday. Strong also earned First Team All-America honors while graduate student guard Azzi Fudd was named to the Second Team.
Strong leads the top-ranked Huskies in points, rebounds, blocks and steals this season. She ranks seventh nationally in steals (97), 15th in assist-turnover ratio (2.37) and 15th in field goal percentage (59.5).
Strong is averaging a .595/.407/.881 shooting split and averaging 18.6 points per game while playing 26.6 minutes per game. UConn's most consistent player, Strong has scored in double digits in 44 consecutive games.
Strong is first in the nation in win shares (10.0), defensive win shares (4.1), offensive rating (133.6), defensive rating (56.5) and player efficiency (46.1).
On Jan. 19, Strong became the third fastest player to 1,000 career points in UConn women's basketball history, reaching the milestone in her 59th career game.
Strong is on the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team, the Wooden Award Late Midseason Watch List, the Katrina McClain top-10 candidate list and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Team.
Fudd is averaging a career-high 17.9 points per game on personal-best shooting percentages (.490/.451/.950). Fudd has already set single-season career highs in rebounds (80), assists (92) and steals (78).
Fudd ranks second nationally in three pointers made (96) and ninth in three-point percentage (45.1). Against top-25 opponents this season, she is averaging 4.4 points on a .500/.468/1.000 shooting split.
Fudd is an AAU Sullivan Award finalist and on the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team, the Wooden Award late midseason watch list and Ann Meyers Drysdale candidate list. She was named the 2025-26 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday.
The Huskies (31-0, 20-0 BIG EAST) are the No. 1 seed in this weekend's BIG EAST Tournament at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. UConn will face either No. 8-seed Georgetown (13-16, 6-14) or No. 9-seed Butler (12-18, 6-14) in the quarterfinals on Saturday at noon on peacock/NBC Sports Network.
